'Yagyopaveet' (sacred thread) indicates that the child is qualified to perform all the traditional Vedic rites including Pitra Kriya and Tarpan for his forefathers.

Yagyopaveet symbolizes three formes of one supreme being, Satoguna Brahma (the creator), Rajoguna Vishnu (the sustained) and Rajoguna Shiva (the destroyer). The knot is called Brahma-Knot, the Lord who controls these three faces of nature. It also symbolizes the three duties for three debts.
(i) Pitra: Debt of parents and ancestors, (ii) Manushya: Debt of society and humanity, (iii) Dev: Debt of Nature and God. The twist in the thread symbolizes strength and honesty.